Before you pick a single piece, you measure. Day 4 of the room challenge is how to measure a dining room the way I do it for clients, once and properly, so you don’t end up with the wrong table, the wrong rug or the wrong light.
YOUR DESIGN GUIDE | ROOM CHALLENGE | DAY 4
Welcome to Day 4.
You’ve looked at your room, chosen your direction in Day 2 and written down how you really use the space in Day 3.
Now, before we pick a single piece, we measure.
I know. It’s the least exciting day of the month. It’s also the one that saves you the most money. Nearly every returned dining table I’ve seen was a measuring problem, not a style problem. So today we do it the way I do it for clients, once and properly.
Today’s guides: my clearance numbers (above), plus my table-size-by-seats chart, rug and light sizing, and my measuring checklist, with a printable checklist and plan sheet in the full post.
Step 1: Gather your tools to measure your dining room
You need three things:
- A 25-foot tape measure
- Graph paper (one square = 6 inches)
- A pencil, not a pen
Write every number in inches, not feet and inches. It sounds fussy, but it’s how you avoid the “was that 7’4″ or 74 inches?” mistake later.
Start at the floor and measure wall to wall in both directions. Write those two numbers in big letters at the top of the page.
Those two numbers matter. But they’re not the ones that usually ruin a plan.
In this guide, you’ll get
- My dining room clearance guide: the space chairs, walkways and doors really need
- My table size by seats chart, so you know what your room can hold
- My rug and light sizing guide for the space over and under the table
- My Designer’s Checklist: the 6 measurements I take in every dining room
- How to draw door swings and mark outlets, vents and the ceiling light box
- A printable Day 4 checklist plus a graph-paper plan sheet to download
The rest of Day 4 is for paid members. Read the full post on Substack.
From my shop
Want the layouts, dimensions and lighting for every room in your home, dining space included? It’s all in my 151-page Complete Home Design Guide.
Want help with your own room?
If you’d love a designer’s eye on your own measurements and layout, book an online design consultation and we’ll talk through your room together.
How to measure a dining room: FAQ
What do I need to measure my dining room?
A 25-foot tape measure, graph paper (one square = 6 inches) and a pencil, not a pen.
Should I measure in feet or inches?
Inches. Write every number in inches so you never mix up 7’4″ and 74 inches later.
Where do I start?
At the floor. Measure wall to wall in both directions and write those two numbers in big letters at the top of the page.
Is the room size the only number that matters?
No. Those two numbers matter, but they’re not the ones that usually ruin a plan. The full Day 4 lesson covers clearances, table size by seats, rug and light sizing and the 6 measurements I take in every dining room.
Read more on Substack: follow along with the room challenge, or subscribe for all the perks, including the full Day 4 guides and checklist.
Originally published on Your Design Guide. Read the full post on Substack: Day 4: Measure Before You Decide Anything
